The most influential people in media are some of the most powerful names in business and play a key role in shaping the industry. While some of the names on this list have become common household names, others may be relatively less known to the general population but exert tremendous influence on the industry as a whole.

Whether they are Internet entrepreneurs or heads of major corporations, a few people stand out as the most influential and they help “steer” the industry to a large degree.

Here is a list of some of the 10 most influential people in media.

1. Eric Schmidt

It is not surprising that the Chairman of Google tops the list. Additionally, Schmidt was a former member on the board of directors for Apple Inc. and sat on the boards of trustees for both Carnegie Mellon University and Princeton University.

Photograph: Guang Niu/Getty

Job: Executive Chairman, Google

Birth Date: April 27, 1955 (age 57)
Industry: new media
Turnover: $10.6bn (£5.25bn)
Staff: 12,238
Salary: $1
Worth: $6.9

2. Rupert Murdoch

In spite of the recent negative publicity surrounding the phone hacking scandal in UK, Rupert Murdoch continues to be one of the most influential people in the Media industry globally.

Photograph: Hector Mata/AFP/Getty Images

Job: Chairman & CEO, News Corporation

Birth Date: 11 March 1931 (age 81)
Industry: broadcasting, publishing, new media
Annual revenue: $25.33bn (£12.65bn)
Staff: 57,000
Salary: $25.7m (£12.5m) (including $21m (£10m) bonus)
Worth: $8.3

3. Mark Thompson

Mark Thompson is the highest paid employee of any public sector organisation in the UK, earning over £800,000 per year.

Photograph: BBC

Job: Director General, BBC since 2004

Birth Date: 31 July 1957 (age 54)
Industry: broadcasting, new media, publishing
Total group income: £4bn
Staff: 23,037
Salary: £800,000 and £900,000 per year (including benefits and other remuneration totalling £164,000)

4. Michael Grade

Michael Grade is a British broadcast executive and businessman. He was BBC chairman from 2004 to 2006 and executive chairman of ITV plc from 2007 to 2009

Job: Executive Chairman, ITV

Birth Date: 8 March 1943 (age 69)
Industry: broadcasting
Turnover: £2.18bn
Staff: 5,957
Salary: £825,000

5. Mark Zuckerburg

Mark Zuckerburg, founder of Facebook needs no introduction. With a net worth of  $17.5 B, the 28 year old self-made Biillionnaire and Internet entrepreneur is undoubtedly one of the most influential people on the internet. Since 2010 Zuckerberg has been named among the 100 wealthiest and most influential people in the world by Time magazine’s Person of the Year.

Job: Chairman & CEO, Facebook

Birth Date: May 14, 1984

Industry: Social Media & Internet
Staff:
Net Worth: $17.5 Billion

6. Richard Branson

Sir Richard Branson is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies.

Photograph: Bruno Vincent/Getty

Job: Founder, Virgin; largest shareholder, Virgin Media

Birth Date: 18 July 1950 (age 61)
Industry: broadcasting, telecommunications
Worth: £4.2bn

7. Tim Cook

The no.7 position in this list was originally held by the late Steve Jobs, co founder of Apple. Apple’s current CEO Tim Cook seems an appropriate replacement on this list. Tim Cook is also highest paid CEO according to New York Times.

He also features on the Tim’s 2012 list of the top 100 influencers in the world.

Job: CEO, Apple

Birth Date: 1 November, 1960
Industry: New media & Technology
Salary: $900,000, a bonus of $900,000 and a one-time award of Apple stock currently valued at $634

8. Ed Richards

Ed Richards is the Chief Executive of Ofcom, the independent regulator for the communications industry in the United Kingdom.

Job: Chief Executive, Ofcom

Birth Date: 1965/1966
Industry: regulation
Staff: 776
Salary: £308,930 (including bonus, benefits and pension payments)

9. Lesley Douglas

Lesley Douglas (born 7 June 1963) is a former British radio executive. She was the Controller of BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music from early 2004 until her resignation in October 2008 over the Russell Brand Show prank telephone calls row.

Lesley Douglas has been named the new chief executive of Lime Pictures, producers of the famous British TV show “The Only Way Is Essex”.

Photograph: Martin Godwin

Job: CEO of Lime Pictures (producers of the famous British TV show “The Only Way Is Essex”)

Birth Date: 7 June 1963 (age 48)
Industry: broadcasting
Annual programming budget: £35.7m (Radio 2), £4.5m (6Music)
Audience: 13.25m (Radio 2), 477,000 (6Music)
Staff: 110

10. Paul Dacre

Paul Michael Dacre is a British journalist and current editor and a director of the British newspaper the Daily Mail.

Job: Editor, Daily Mail; Editor-in-chief, the Mail group titles & Associated Newspapers.  He is also a Director of Daily Mail and General Trust plc.

Birth Date: 14 November 1948 (age 63)
Industry: publishing
Circulation: Daily Mail 2,294,949; Mail on Sunday 2,274,551; London Evening Standard 273,537 (May 2007)
Salary: £1.23m (including £249,000 benefits)

The above list identifies some of the most influential people in media. They can be a great source of inspiration whether you are a media professional, someone looking for inspiration to promote your business or grow your online influence.